Subject	Archaeology
Specific subject area	All chronometric data from Palaeolithic sites of Europe according to their archaeologic and stratigraphic level.
Type of data	Microsoft Access file
How data were acquired	In this database we have collected the available radiometric data from literature and from other more restricted databases. We try to incorporate newly published chronometric dates collected from all kind of available publications.
Data format	Raw The database uses Microsoft Access©. The database is available http://www.ees.kuleuven.be/geography/projects/14c-palaeolithic/index.html
Parameters for data collection	•Included are all radiometric data that can be correlated with the presence of Palaeolithic humans over Europe, Asian Russia included. The data are thus mainly available through the scientific excavations of Palaeolithic sites and can be related to a stratigraphy and eventually to a prehistoric “culture”. •The information collection is organised in following items: Geographical Information; Cultural Information; Stratigraphical information; Chronology with 1) Conventional 14C age in BP, 2) AMS age in BP, 3) TL age, 4) OSL age, 5) Other age (ESR, U-Series); Postdepositional Activities; Local Climate; Environment Condition; Bibliographic Reference. •The basic item for a single form of the database is a layer or a level from a specific site. •The different chronometric dates from a specific layer are grouped into a single form. •When a site is characterized by an extensive stratigraphic profile with many dates, we only take over those dates that relate to a prehistoric occupation level. •Only dates older than 9500 uncalibrated BP are included in the database. •If our source has a map of the site(s), we use Google Earth for a more precise location of the site and for the determination of longitude and latitude. When no details are available, the coordinates of the center of the village where the site is situated, are used. •When different cultural attributions are given in the literature, all of them will be given. •Unreliable results can be indicated (In the remarks a reason can be given). The reason for considering a date as unreliable is not our evaluation but that of one of the references cited. •Each radiometric date is given as such. It is not our purpose to evaluate the date. A poor dating procedure (e.g. too small sample, or incomplete treatment of the sample) can be mentioned. •When available, the sample treatment is given.
Description of data collection	The collection of the data is accomplished by the continuous checking of newly published articles in 400 international and regional scientific journals and in collections or books dealing with a particular period or a specific Paleolithic site. The list of journals inspected is available as "inspected-journals.xls" at http://www.ees.kuleuven.be/geography/projects/14c-palaeolithic/index.html. The radiometric dates mentioned therein are taken over in the database. Since the database has become known, colleagues have also made available newly acquired radiometric dating. When collecting the dates, care is taken to ensure that the dates are the result of careful sampling and of a standardized dating method in the various laboratories. The dates are included in the database as delivered by the laboratories. A further processing of the data, such as calibration, is not included. The data already present in the database are continuously updated and checked. After all, it turns out that specific published data sometimes differ from author to author. If this is the case, the authors are contacted to find out which of the given data is correct. The database is intended to be continuously supplemented and improved. As a result, the current data is already version 26, while the first version was created in 2002. The intention is to continue this process.
Data source location	KULeuven, Leuven, Country: Belgium
Data accessibility	Repository name: KULeuven (is not really a “Repository”)Data identification number: [provide number]Direct URL to data: http://www.ees.kuleuven.be/geography/projects/14c-palaeolithic/index.htmlIt is also available at Mendeley Data Contributors:Pierre VermeerschDate:2020–03–16Radiocarbon Palaeolithic Europe Database v26 jan 2020.mdb… Paleolithic Period… Radiocarbon Palaeolithic Europe Database v26 jan 2020 extract.xlsx… Rdiocarbon Palaeolithic Europe Database v26 jan. 2020docx.docx… Radiocarbon DatingData Types: •Software/Code •Geospatial Data •Tabular Data •Dataset •Document Our dates (older version) are included in the “Canadian Archaeological Radiocarbon Database (CARD 2.0)” http://www.canadianarchaeology.ca/.
Related research article	Vermeersch Pierre M., Josette Renault-Miskovky. 1999. European late Pleistocene, isotope stages 2 and 3 : Humans, their ecology & cultural adaptations, inqua Congress in Durban south Africa, 3–11 Augst 1999, international Union for quaternaty research/Union internationale pour l’étude du quaternaire, Commitee on human evolution & palioecology, Liège, ERAUL 9O, 242 p. Vermeersch P.M. 2005. European population changes during Marine Isotope Stages 2 and 3. Quaternary International 137: 77–85.